Cutting-Edge Prototypes Push a Passion for Cycling

Think of your bike. How many materials does it represent? A rigid metal frame, rm rubber tires, soft handlebar grips, a cushioned seat, clear and colored lenses — a lot of engineering and testing go into a smooth, fast ride.

Engineers and designers at Trek Bicycle in Waterloo, Wisconsin, are famously obsessed with improving that ride. Their innovations have included a proprietary carbon-fiber manufacturing method that produces record-breaking lightweight frames, and an ultra-aerodynamic airfoil, the mere shape of which can provide not just extremely low drag, but even negative drag, or thrust.